The purpose of this blog is to provide an open forum for discussion of the aims of the society; news from the wider Church and details of Masses and events of interest in the diocese. The Latin Mass Society in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough expresses its full filial devotion and loyalty to Holy Mother Church, Pope Francis and Bishop Drainey.

27 April 2017

The pilgrimage is on Saturday (29th April), starting at 1.30pm with Solemn Mass at St Wilfrid's Church, York . The Music will be Haydn's Little Organ Mass provided by the Music Scholars and Schola of St Wilfrid's Church. The Procession will set off at approx 3pm and return to St Wilfris's for Benediction at about 3.45pm,

Tea will be provided after Benediction. Contributions of cakes or biscuits would be appreciated,

I have been informed of of this day of Eucharistic Adoration and Prayer for York at St Wilfrid's Church in York on Friday 23rd June. The church will be open from 8am until 10pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout. There will be Novus Ordo Mass at 12.10pm and a Sung Extraordinary Form Mass at 6pm followed by Musical Oratory, candlelit adoration and procession. The day will end with Benediction,

20 April 2017

The Catholic Herald gives some figures for Receptions into the Catholic Church in the USA. It lists the numbers received during 2017 Easter Vigils in six US dioceses or archdioceses as follows:

Los Angeles 2694

Galveston- Houston 2375

Washington 1180

Seatle 1088

Brooklyn 915

Miami 734

It is not clear whether these are the top six dioceses for Receptions, or whether they are the dioceses for which figures are readily available. The total for the six dioceses is 8990, and when one considers that there are about 200 dioceses in the USA, the figure for the nation as a whole must surely exceed 100,000.

I understand that the equivalent figure for England and Wales is in the region of 3,000, so the six listed US dioceses has about three times as many Receptions as the whole of England and Wales. To make a proper comparison, one would need to know the Catholic population of these dioceses, but , at first sight, it would seem that the USA is rather better at attracting converts.